great At the same time he was searched; but with dexterity he contrived to conceal the precious notes that he had made of his examinations. Next day he was summoned into the chapel, where he found with the bishop the Bishop of St. Davids, Morgan, Archdeacon John Harpsfield of London, and some other doctors who had been present at the famous disputation in the Convocation House. Bonner read his former articles again and put all who were there upon their oath as witnesses. Philpot once more denied the bishop's jurisdiction, and vehemently declared that he would not be dealt withal in a corner. Change of prison not having changed his mind, he was sent back to the coalhouse, to his former companions. Several interviews followed, in which Bonner showed himself more gentle; and still unwilling to have the proceedings made public, when they would have but one end: while on the other hand the archdeacon made some slight advances, that he might obtain an open court. "I gave him some comfort of my relenting, that I might give him and his hypocritical generation a further foil, perceiving that they dare reason openly with none but such as be unlearned, and for lack of knowledge unable to answer." But this lasted not long. As his final efforts in this strange struggle Bonner procured several bishops, the Prolocutor of Canterbury and other doctors to come: then a deputation of bishops from Pole's legatine synod which was then sitting: and at last the Archbishop of York and other bishops. As to the prelates, the slightness of their questions, their willingness to be satisfied, and the haste which they made to Maitland, Essays, p. 24. See on the subject Simpson's Chapters in Old escape from the painful business, may serve to explain how it was that so many dioceses remained free from fire and faggot amid the dangers of the times.* On the first occasion the gentle Tunstall, the somewhat keener Day of Chichester, Bourne of Bath, who had all preserved their flocks in peace (or nearly so), appeared with Christopherson the Prolocutor, Chedsey, the formidable Morgan of Oxford,† and others. Tunstall would have rested satisfied with Philpot's avowal that he was of the same catholic faith and church to which he was baptised: but Day insisted that the prisoner had another meaning than that which the bishop was willing to suppose. Day, who thereafter maintained the conversation, had reason to regret his interference, for he was reduced to total silence. "It is almost night, my lord of London," said Tunstall, "I must needs be gone:" and Day also rose to go: while Bourne, who had not contributed at all to the discussion, suddenly walked off without saying a word, as Bonner was entreating the other two to stay. "Tarry, my lords," cried Bonner, "here is my libel to read, the earnest matters that I have to charge this man withal. He says that the Spirit is Christi Vicarius on earth: take away the first syllable of Vicarius, and it soundeth Arius: he says that he has superabundant grace, and so said Arius."-"My lord, I must needs bid you farewell," said Tunstall. "Nay, nay, my lord," urged Bonner, "here is a letter which I desire you to hear for this man has taken upon him to write letters out of * And it may be observed that Catholic was the word by which they played. When a prisoner was brought to them, by the zeal usually of laymen, they asked him if he were of the Catholic faith, or the Catholic church: when he said yes, they asked no more, but let him go. + Philip Morgan was principal of St. Mary's Hall. We have seen him in the last reign: see vol. iii. 116, huj. op. He wrote Disputatio de Eucharistiæ Sacramento, 1549. Wood's Athen. prison, and has perverted Green: call Green hither: this letter is full of shameful lies: come hither, master Green: and in it he calls my chaplain (Chedsey) a great conjurer." Tunstall smiled. "Have I not used him with great gentleness?" pursued Bonner, "and yesterday he procured a bag of black powder, I know not for what purpose and he caused a pig to be roasted, and a knife put between the skin and the flesh master Green, I showed you this letter: then there is his book of the report of the disputation in the Convocation House, where he saith that Weston called him a lunatic fit for Bedlam."—"My lord of London, I can tarry no longer," said Tunstall. "Master Philpot, ye have said well that ye will abide in the Catholic faith and in the Catholic Church: so do, and ye shall do right well." Herewith he walked out of the room, Bonner following to conduct him and before Bonner could return, Day also made his escape, with the remark, "I must needs be gone." The conference was prolonged by the doctors: of whom, while the learned Christopherson was vehement, the stout Morgan tried ridicule. "What, there is no truth in us? Ha, ha, ha! You fell on your knees in the Convocation House and wept. Ha, ha, ha! What, you make yourself Christ? Ha, ha, ha!" This evoked the utmost rage of Philpot's inexpugnable spirit, and, "Thou painted wall and hypocrite," among other things said he, "thou blind and blasphemous doctor, when thou, in the Convocation House, tookest upon thee to answer the few arguments that I was permitted to make, thou didst fumble and stammer so that the whole house was ashamed of thee. I am able by the spirit of truth to drive thee round this gallery before me and if the Queen and her Council would be pleased to hear thee and me, I would make thee for shame shrink behind the door."-" Thou shalt burn for thine heresy, and afterwards go to hell fire,” was among the remarks of Morgan. "I call thee an ass that kickest against the truth," was one of the replications of Philpot. The Bishops of Worcester and Bangor, Pate and Glyn, were sent soon afterwards, along with Bonner himself, from Pole's legatine synod, to offer mercy and forgiveness upon conformity "Be not a singular man," said Pate, who himself had once been Archdeacon of Winchester, "against a whole multitude of learned men, which now with fasting and prayer are gathered together to devise things to do you good." He told him furthermore that he had never in his own diocese talked with any, but after one examination he had brought them to revoke their errors: and Pate was certainly of those who kept their sees unspotted from the fire. When Philpot averred that he agreed with the true Catholic Church, he said to Bonner, "This man speaketh reasonably:" but Bonner was not for allowing an escape under a general allegation: here lay the difference between him and most of his brethren of the mitre. The Archbishop of York, Day of Chichester, Bourne of Bath, conversed long and earnestly with Philpot: their burden being that he should have humility, be satisfied where others were, and mistrust his own judgment. But they lost their labour, and Day his temper: the prisoner being found as inflexible as before, his answer being still, "How can I be satisfied with nothing?" Bonner and his chaplains made a last attempt on the same day to reduce him: and then, “It One of Day's arguments is curious enough: that Philpot could not show the succession of bishops in his Church. "How, say you, can you show the succession of bishops in your Church from time to time? I tell you this argument troubled Doctor Ridley so sore, that he was never able to answer it." Examinations, 141. Philpot's church was Day's church, Day's church was Philpot's church: the succession of bishops that Day could show Philpot could show. is but folly, my lord, for you to reason with him," said both Harpsfield and Chedsey, "for he is irrecoverable." The Bishop of London then reluctantly left his private endeavours to persuade, and proceeded against his prisoner by open judgment in consistory in St. Paul's, December 13 and 14: and on December 16, Archdeacon Philpot was burned alive in Smithfield.* * Burned alive in the latter part of 1555. |